We got up at 6am and quickly had breakfast to make sure we were at Plitvice Lakes in the 7-8am slot. We were there at 7.10am – not bad – and there weren’t too many other people there.

We entered at Entrance 1 (out of 2 possible) and decided to walk route C – supposedly the one to get the best views of the waterfalls by approaching them head on and taking 4-6 hours and walking 8km – with a boat and bus trip as well.

Please excuse the large amount of photos – and this is only the cut down selection!

The first waterfall we saw was the largest in Croatia- Velika Slap. It was certainly a stunning view to start with.

We then continued along the boardwalks to the next section with not too many people around. There were more waterfalls and fish in the blue water. I started a new fashion being half smart on top with hat and flowery skirt – with my hiking boots on the bottoms.

There were many limestone walls and caves next to us. The sun was starting to creep down the gully making green water turn to blue.

The next waterfalls were named after famous Croatian opera singer Ternina in 1898.

We had been walking for nearly 2 hours by now and were at the last section of the lower lakes – around 9.10am. I’m usually still having coffee at that time!

We needed to take the electric boat to get to the upper lakes section. Unfortunately we couldn’t get on the first boat – but that gave us time to have a coffee from the little shop – a welcome break.

We met an unusual chap next to us in the queue. He had an American accent but was originally German now living in Brazil as his wife is Brazilian. He is a retired aeronautical engineer who spent many years working in America. He didn’t tell us a lot about his work but that it takes a lot of failures to get a successful rocket into space. There is hope then for the first Australian rocket that crashed just after takeoff.

We got on the boat and enjoyed the sit down on a nice peaceful trip.

Getting off at the other end we saw many more different and beautiful sights. One waterfall had water shooting out from lower crevices. There was always something different. We stopped after another half an hour to have a rest and a bite to eat – it’s definitely worthwhile bringing a small picnic. We then were alone many times along the path making it all very peaceful.

We went over a rougher rockier track through pine trees.

Eventually we came to a clearing which is the end of the upper lakes section. This is where the buses take you back up the hill to Entrance 2 and onwards near Entrance 1.

There was another little coffee and food stall and lots of picnic benches. We enjoyed the sit down and had our little picnic to keep us going – we weren’t finished walking yet!

A couple of ducks were working the tables.

One lot of buses left and we waited for the next to arrive. They are short buses in 3 sections so that they can get around the tight hairpin corners going up the hill.

We got off at the last stop now high above the lower lakes on the other side from the main path. It was still another kilometer to get to our exit at Entrance 1 .

We could see down to where we had walked – and there was a queue of people by now. It’s well worth getting up early to do the first 7-8am entrance slot.

At last we were back in the carpark. We felt we had done a full day and it was only 12 midday!

We paid the parking and there were motorhomes queueing for spots – so we got going to our next location half an hour up the road.

We stopped at an aire in Slunj – 20 euro for the night including toilets and showers – a very good deal particularly in Croatia. It’s also next to a beautiful town with river and a 15th century castle. What more could you want?

We went for a walk into town to check it all out.

We found a nice cafe bar to have a relaxing local beer.

There were lots of young people milling around – a lot with dreadlocks and covered in tattoos.

Glenn had a chat with an Australian chap there who explained this was where the bus was leaving to go to a 7 day music festival in the middle of nowhere. When we went to the supermarket later there was very little on the shelves – it had been picked over.

We walked back to the van between showers of rain and had a filling pasta dinner to get our energy back for tomorrow. That was an epic day!